Knitting machine



March 5, 1957 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE March 5, 1957 Filed Nov. 1, 1954 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. LAWSON BY lid v v I ATTORNEYS March 5, 1957 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 1, 1954 Fl G. 4.

INVENTOR. ROBERT H. LAWSON BY ATTORN EYS March 5, 1957 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 1, 1954 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. LAWSON 64W, 2% 41,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Williams,- Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application Novernber 1,1954; Serial No. 465,883 1-2- Claims. (Cl. -1 3 This invention relatesto afknitting method and machine and has particular reference to the formation of rib tops or other ribbed bands on halfhose' or other circular machines having cylinder an dj dial needles.

The patent to' R; W; scottN-o; 1,641,101", dated Au ust 30; I927, describes in detail mechanism and procedure involved, starting on bare needles, in the formation of rib tops of half hose and the transferof lfoops from dial needles to cylinder needles which were inactive during the formation of the rib top;

The rib top so formed heretofo ehgid relatively unsatisfactory appearance and characteristics, and improved method and mechanism fof the" formation of rib trips have been devised and form the, subject matter of my application, Serial No; 263,377, filed December 26, 1951-, now Patent N 0. 2,719,415. p

The present invention relates to these'curing of proper sinker operation in the formation of rib tops or ribbed hands and applies to the formation of rib fabric'in accordance with both said Scott patent add the improved procedure of my application. For clarity of description and also because it is particularly applicable to the improved method and machine of said application, the invention will be described specifically as applied to the method and machine of my prior application,

As described in said Scott patent; during the formation of the welt preceding the formation of a rib top, the sinkers had imparted to them the normal movements for the formation of p'laii'r fabric; At' the beginning of rib knittihg, the welt had to' he forced inwardly by abnormal movements of sawtooth sinker-s aridfor this purpose the sawtooth sinke'rs were drawn outwardlyto an abnormal extent sothat when moved inwardly by the rib knock-over ca'nithey would" en gageland impart considerahle' movement to the welt toprovide the; necessary tensioning for the formation ofthe initialri-bstitches. The abnormal outward movement was imparted prior to the drawing'of stitches and the subseque nt inward movenient of the sinker-s occurred directlyfollowing the-drawing of the loops. The continued proper formation of rib stitches required continued action of the sinkers through abnormalranges of movement'and;consequently, the sinker controlling operationsju'st describedwere con tinned throughout theforiiiation of a rib top; Inmy application referred to aho've, these same sink-er movements of the Scott: pate'fif wf involved to control the proper formation of rib fabric;

It has been found, however, tiiati'n marga new hold on the rib stitches near whereflhey' heiiig formed,

extent that tucks arr-dyer irregularities resulted. I

lt'i'sthe general object of 'tliii" present invention to rovide a mo'dification df -the= sihlter opeiittibiis tti avoid: the

troublesijust meritionedl Ahiioi mall a eatsifiki moi/efments are required fo impart teti'sion to thf r1 brie asit is being formed;but in accordalibi, With thii'prs'e'nt invention, theseabnormaili 'largeffiidveiheiits di thefs'ink ers are caused": to take; place reiiidte" the poitit of h the fore, the cam which formerly e iifectedithle' ahnoi'rrial withdrawar during are tra t-anion; from welt to; rib knitting is located where it mere s'eiv s to prevent the sinkers' from moving too far inwardly'to fireveiifltli'e welt fi'dm passing freely betw'eri he sawtee h of the sinke'r's" and the dial fins. After the stitch formation is entirely'com pleted, the sinkers' are withdrawn by an; additional cam and they are then fr to move 'nwaraly under the ac tion of their spriiigj' band to" ejtfect proper take-up arid tensioning of the rib fabi'ic witho iit, however, releasing their tension and their ahruptly eit'er cisin'g force on the fabric during the formation of a stitch such as might lead to" tucking or irregiilarif s,

The fore tstng enerar obje' of the irivc'ritibn and other more detailedobje'cts partied ny e g to featiire s'ot construction and operationwi become apparent. from the folldwihg' desciipfitifi read 1'11" Ciiiijfinfidi'i Wiil'i tli accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure" l' is an' insid e'd'evelopihefnt of the" cams for" actcylinder and dial needles associated elements, the

sfinkers' associated withthe cyliride'r nee-ales being shown iii section;

Figure 4 is' a plan view showiiigf, iri par'ticular various sinker-controlling"cams and the operating devices therefor; and

Figures 5 to 1 0,; inclusive, are enlarged" axialsections showing. the rel a and sinkers' duriiig rih knitting,v the various sectionsbe: ingtakefi on the" axial plaries'itidi cated at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and; 10' in Figures 1, 2,3111.

The half hose machine whichis illustrated; is essen tially' as described in said Scott patent} modified in accordance with said Laws0n apfplication, and, accordingly;

there are illustrated only th'os'e changes and parts which are particularly contained with" the attainment of the objects" of the present invention. As will more fully appear hereafter, transfer pperations are carried out precisely as described in said Scott patent and, hence,-have not been illiistrated.

The half hose; machine comprises the slottefd needle cylinder 2 in which are mountedlatch needlesvwhich' are designated 4" and 4", there being designated by 4" those alternate needles which are active during rib knitting while there are designated at 4-" the intermediate needles which are inactive during rib knitti'n'g. As' is usual, these needles; are provided" With' butts arranged to be acted upon by: suitable cams; there being made provisionfor differentiating the needles of the' groups 4 and 4" by means of jacks'whichare notillustrated; the arrangement being as in said Scott patent.

When making 1-- x 1= I-ibyt-WO' types of sinkers are provided in alternation about the needle cylinder Between the needles thereof. Sinkers indicated at' 6 are provided with sawteeth- 8- andusual nibs" 1'0 and are located to the left of, or behind, from the" standpoint of direction of" cylinder rotation each ofthe active needles 4%: as illustrated particularly in Figure 3. The; intermediate si'rikers 12 are without ,the sawteeth S a'nd are provided atlthe rear of the inac'tive needIes l-"V Thesesink'ersof both sets are mounted in conventional fashion; and have conventional waves imparted therto, as describedjnsaid Scott patent, by'carfisuacting" upon their butts The sinkrsare urged iti'vjv'ardl B thecoitvetionahspring band ioiiship's 65' the cylinder and dial needles" desired,'certain of the sawtooth sinkers 6 may be replaced by plain sinkers 12.

The usual slotted dial is provided at 14 and has fins 15 provided on its underside for cooperation with the sawtooth sinkers to assist in the drawing of the fabric inwardly from the cylinder needles. These fins 15 differ from those described in said Scott patent and my application by reason of the provision of inwardly directed abrupt shoulders 17 which, as will appear hereafter, cooperate in engaging the rib stitches to effect proper takeup action.

The dial is automatically vertically movable as described in the Scott patent. It is raised in the formation of the welt to provide room for the formation of the welt fabric and is then lowered with respect to the cylinder for knitting of the rib. It is then again raised after transfer.

Within radial slots in the dial 14 there are mounted for relative sliding movements the hook members 16 and the cast-off or point members 20 constituting the dial needles. The hook members 16 are provided with the usual hooks 18 while the point members 2% are provided with the usual points 22. Butts 24 and 26 on these respective members are arranged to be acted upon by dial cams, such as indicated in Figure 2, including the member 28 provided with the cam surface 30 and earns 32, 34 and 36.

=The butts of the cylinder needles are arranged to be acted upon by the switch cam 37, the reverse stitch cam 38, the center cam 40, the forward stitch cam 42, the rise cam 44 and the lowering cam 46. As indicated in Figure l, the needles 4, which are active during rib knitting, pass these cams along the butt path A, their butts passing over the reverse stitch cam 38 and being depressed by cams 40 and 42 to take yarn at the feed of the machine, then being raised by cam 44 and lowered by cam 46. The needles 4", which are inactive during rib knitting, enter the butt path B and are depressed below the reverse stitch cam 38 by switch cam 37, thereafter moving horizontally to join the butts of the needles 4 to be raised by cam 44 and then'loweerd by cam 46.

The various structural matters heretofore described will be found to be essentially as disclosed in said Scott patent and details need not be particularly described herein. However, reference may be made to two matters which contribute to the securing of best results and are described in said Lawson application. First, it is desirable, as will appear from Figures 1, 2 and 3 and to 10, inclusive, of the drawings, that the dial needles draw their stitches during rib knitting somewhat later than the cylinder needles which aids in widening the bights between the rib and plain loops and also makes the action of the sawtooth sinkers more positive. Secondly, it is preferable to effect cast-off by means of an outside point 22 rather than by an inside hook as described alternatively in said Scott patent, the result being less stretching of the dial stitches with a resulting tendency to production of wider bights between the rib and plain loops.

In said Lawson application, there is described mechanism, not herein shown, for effecting shogging of the dial with respect to the cylinder while the two rotate together. Such shogging action forms no part of the present invention, and reference may be made to said Lawson application for the effect of this shogging in the production of improved rib fabric in which the dial needle wales, though not positioned midway between the cylinder needle wales, are of substantially the same size, giving rise to improved elasticity and, concurrently, to improved appearance of a more solid and heavier rib fabric devoid of the open ladder-like lines characterizing the rib fabrics heretofore produced on cylinder and dial machines capable of knitting and effecting transfer of loops by means of dial needles such as in the said Scott patent. Briefly stated, in one relative position of the dial and cylinder the needles are in the relative positions illustrated in said Scott patent suitable for transfer of loops from the dial needles to the cylinder needles. Under these conditions, the dial needles are substantially in the same axial planes as the needles 4" to which transfer of loops is to be made. Fins 15 are then in the axial planes of plain sinkers 12. These relative positions of the parts, if present during rib knitting, would result in the results heretofore produced and relatively unsatisfactory.

During rib knitting, however, the dial is shogged relatively rearwardly with respect to the cylinder, giving the parts the relative positions illustrated in Figure 3. Under these conditions, it will be noted that the dial needles are no longer in the axial planes of the inactive cylinder needles but, rather, are displaced rearwardly to the end that they are in axial planes close to, and immediately in front of, the active cylinder needles from the standpoint of the direction of rotation, which is to the right of Fig ure 3. Under these conditions there is also displacement of the fins 15 to bring them substantially in the axial planes of the active cylinder needles 4-. As will be evident from the foregoing, the sawtooth sinkers will then be asymmetrically located with respect to the cylinder and dial needles, the dial needles being spaced to a greater extent than the active cylinder needles from the sawtooth sinkers therebetween.

It will be noted, comparing Figures 1 and 2, that in the formation of stitches the cylinder needles 4 reached their lowermost position under stitch cam 42 at the axial plane 7 which precedes the axial plane 8 at which the hook members 16 reach their innermost stitch drawing positions.

Reference may be made to said Lawson application for details of the operations of the elements giving rise to the improved fabric.

Reference may now be made to the sinker controlling devices to which the present invention relates. In Figure 4 the regular forward and reverse knock-over cams are illustrated at 43 and 50, respectively. The former of these is pivoted at 52 and the latter at 54. A rib knock-over cam 56 having its active rise at 53 is pivoted also at 52 independently of cam 48. The reverse knockover cam 59 is controlled by a link 60 from the main cam drum of the machine in conventional fashion while the forward knock-over cam 48 is similarly controlled by a link 61. The inner position of cam 56 is adjusted by means of the eccentric 70 which abuts a portion of the sinker cap which carries all of the parts of the sinker control system.

A control link 62 operated from the main cam drum of the machine is connected to a bell crank 64 which is pivoted at 66. The arm 72 of lever 64 is arranged to en gage the end 82 of a lever 84 pivoted at 86, which lever is provided with a slot 88 embracing a pin 90 carried by a cam 92 pivoted at 94. The lever end 82 is provided with a pair of steps 83 and cooperating with arm 72 as will appear hereafter. Various springs, some of which are not shown, act on the levers and cams to urge them against the actions of the mechanical connections which effect their movements.

A cam corresponding to 78 is illustrated and described in said Scott patent as having the function when in an outer position of producing withdrawal of sinkers during both the transition from welt to rib top knitting and during the continued knitting of the rib top. In accordance with the present invention this cam 78 remains in an inner position as illustrated in Figure 4.

During the knitting of the welt, the lever 64 will occupy an extreme clockwise position clearing both of the steps 83 and 85 of lever 84. As a result cam 92 will occupy an inner position maintaining normal sinker operation, the knock-over cam 48 being in'its inner position to impart the proper sinkerwave for plain knitting.

Followingthe end of the welt and at the initiation of rib knitting, the sawtooth sinkers must engage the welt to impart an inward take-up action for the proper formation of ribstitches. To secure this result, thelever 64 is rocked to its extreme counterclockwise po sition, and the cam 48' is withdrawn leaving the cam- 56 and the sinker spring band tocheat the knock-over aetior; The. high step 85 of'lever 84 isengagedrcaus1ng-cam9 to be moved to its extreme outer positiom- The sawtooth sinkers are thus withdrawn abnormally outward ly by cam 92 sothat abnorr-rial tens on wilt be applred by them to the fabric under the action of the sinker spr ng band and cam 56 during the initralicourses of; rib'kmttrng to insure passage of the Welt-beneaththe dial.

Extreme outward movements of the; strikers by cam 92 followed by a corresponding: extreme nwardmovement by cam point 58 is undes rable follow-mginitiation of rib knitting for reasons whichmay be explained as p rior type of operation, before cam: QZ-Was used, the sinkers were withdrawn y cqrrespondmgfi 73, and in order for the sawteeth: to take a new bite on the fabric it was necessarythat during passage ofthe sinkers" over the cam they gradually nelease'd the' tension on the dial stitches umir, efiect1vely,.- the stitches were relatively free and out of control. The release of {$51011 was greatest in the region reprcsented byplane 6 1m tgurz 4,. and since, as seen-in Figure 6;.the dial: member was being movedi'nwardly: by the:st1tchec-a-m 4 (Figure 2), it was possible for the relatively untens onedloop on the member 16 to slide outwardly toward the hook 18 so that it mightbe missed by pomtz 22 on member 20, and insteadof being held above the; book. as in; F gure 7 to be cast" off, it would be located insthe hook with the new loop, thus forming a. tuck; Irregnlanuesm the stitches were also possibledue torelaxat on of tension beginning when the sinkers first contacted the. cam. cor.- responding to 78' and: the suddent apphcatron' ofnew tension as they again came under: the mfluenceof the spring band, since during this part of the st tch cycle the hooks, points and cylinder needles were almost continuously-changingtheirrelati emositibnm I According to the present invention,follow ng the initiation of rib knitting as desribed above, the lever 6ft moves clockwise to a sufficient extent to clear the high step 85 of lever 84 while engaging step SQ as illustrated n Figure 4 so thatcam' 92 is heldin a'r'rint'erniediatepos tion. Under these conditions a normal tension for r 1b knitting is imparted to the fabric by the sawtooth sinkers, the cam 78 merely insuring sufficient clearance between the sawtooth sinkers and fins for the passage of the welt and rib fabric.

According to the invention, cam 92 withdraws the sinkers at a point well past Where the stitches are cast off, and since the cylinder needles are down, the d1al hooks in, and the fabric trigged by the corners of the dial fins as seen in Figure 10, it is not necessary to withdraw the sinkers nearly as far as was formerly required to insure that the sawtooth will take a new proper bite on the fabric. Cam 78 in its fixed inner postion consequently releases the tension only to the extent that the sinkers may have settled inwardly under the influence of the spring band after having passed cam 92, and a substantially continuous tension is therefore maintained during the complete stitch cycle, being released only slightly, if at all, by cam 78 and again when the dial stitches are released as the point members are withdrawn by cam 30. Due to this substantially constant tension applied to the fabric it appears that the spring band becomes more effective in casting off the dial stitches and it is necessary to move the sinkers only slightly by the rib knock-over cam 56. Tucks and irregularities are much less likely to occur.

Following the completion of rib knitting, the lever 64 is moved to its extreme clockwise position, complete 1y clearing lever 84, with consequent removal of cam 92 from effective action. Cam 48 is restored to action for the imparting of proper sinker movements for plain knit- 6 ting- Gam 50 is also restored to its active position in readiness for knitting-theheel and toe.

The shoulders 1.7 on the fins have-the purpose which is best. made clear from consideration of Figures 9; and 1 0; These. shoulders engage the stitches" of the rib fabric so that as the sawtooth sinkersare withdrawn.- by cam 9 2 the fabric is held against; outward movement: with the sinkers, with the result: that after cam 92' ispassed thesinkerswill take-a new engagement with the fabric to effect inward, tensioning. thereof under the action first of spring 7 andthenof. campoint 58. It may behere remarked. that the sinker movements betweenrthe positions determined by earns 92 and;56 areof. the order ct. extent. of the spacing-ohtwo' teeth 8.

It willbe evident from: the foregoing. that. the invention is applicable: to operation in. accordance: with the Scott patent as well. as in accordance with said Lawson application.

whatis clainiedlisg 1 1. In a circular knitting, machine a; cyliiztder, a dial,

cylinder and dial\ needles respectively carried thereby,

cams; foi impartingstitchdrawing movements to said cylinder. and dial needles, sinkersfor effecting inward movements. of fabric during, rib knitting. by said cylinder and. dial" needles, and means.- for: imparting maximum outward movements to. said sinkers at a point remote fromthelocationeofi drawingof stitches.

2. In a circular knitting, machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carriedthereby, cams for imparting stitch drawing'movements tosaid cyhnder and. dial. needles sawtooth sinker-s for. effectmg inward movements. of! fabric during. rib" knitting by said cylinder: and dial. needles,; and means for imparting maximu outward movements to said sinkersat a point remote from. the location of' drawing of stitches,

3, In a. circular knitting, machine. a cylinder, a dial, and dial needles respectively carried: thereby, dial. needles Being of a. type capahl e of transferring loops tocyIindcr needles,,cams. for irnpartingzstitchdraw- 111g: movements to saidcylinder and dial needles, sinkers 91- ef fectlng" inwardmovements of fabric' duringriba knitt ng jsa'id" cylinder and dial'ne edles a. knock-over. cam for acting upon sinkers. at a. position adjacent tothelocat on ofT drawing; of stitches, and" means. for imparting. maxnnuni outwardfmovements. tosaid sinkers at-axpoint remote'fr'om the" location of action by said knock-over cam.

i. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cyhnder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, the dial needles being of a type capable of transferring loops to cyhnder needles, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sawtooth 1 sinkers for efiecting inward movements of fabric during l'lb knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, a knockover cam for acting upon sinkers at a position adjacent to the location of drawing of stitches, and means for imparting maximum outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of action by said knockover cam.

5 In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cyhnder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, the dial needles being of a type capable of transferring loops to cylinder needles, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sinkers for eifecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of drawing of stitches, said dial being provided with fins having inwardly facing approximately vertical shoulders to hold rib fabric during outward movements of the sinkers.

6. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, the dial needles being of a type capable of transferring loops to cylinder needles, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needlles, sawtooth sinkers for effecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of drawing of stitches, said dial being provided with fins having inwardly facing approximately vertical shoulders to hold rib fibric during outward movements of the sinkers.

7. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sawtooth sinkers for effecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, and means for imparting movements to said sinkers shortly after the drawing of stitches so that substantially continuous tension is applied to the dial stitches during their cycle of formation.

8. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sinkers for efiecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of drawing of stitches, the last mentioned means comprising a cam having a plurality of active positions and an inactive position to impart different extents of said outward movements to the sinkers.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sawtooth sinkers for effecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of drawing of stitches, the last mentioned means comprising a cam having a plurality of active positions and an inactive position to impart different extents of said outward movements to the sinkers.

10. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, the dial needles being of a type capable of transferring loops to cylinder needles, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sinkers for effecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, a knock-over cam for acting upon sinkers at a position adjacent to the location of drawing of stitches, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of action by said knock-over cam, the last mentioned means comprising a cam having a plurality of active positions and an inactive position to impart difierent extents of said outward movements to the sinkers.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, the dial needles being of a type capable of transferring loops to cylinder needles, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sawtooth sinkers for effecting inward movements of fabric during rib knitting by said cylinder and dial needles, a knockover cam for acting upon sinkers at a position adjacent to the location of drawing of stitches, and means for imparting outward movements to said sinkers at a point remote from the location of action by said knock-over cam, the last mentioned means comprising a cam having a plurality of active positions and an inactive position to impart ditferent extents of said outward movements to the sinkers.

12. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, cylinder and dial needles respectively carried thereby, cams for imparting stitch drawing movements to said cylinder and dial needles, sinkers between cylinder needles, at least some of which sinkers have saw teeth, and normal pull-out and knock-over cams adjacent to the knitting point to cast off stitches, in combination with means for imparting outward movements to the sinkers, at a location remote from the location of drawing of stitches, to withdraw the sinkers beyond the withdrawal distance effected by said pull-out cam adjacent to the knitting point and then release the sinkers, so that saw tooth sinkers may tension rib fabric without release of the tension by said pull-out cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,101 Scott Aug. 30, 1927 2,174,439 Dickens Sept. 26, 1939 2,420,771 Crawford et al May 20, 1947 

